The goal of the group was to garner Vatican support for the abolition of the
death penalty for children in the US and to end the US practice of treating its
children as adults for the sole purpose of criminal prosecution.
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Kaneer meets the press in Atlanta
Karen Kaneer's daughter, Rebecca Falcon, was sentenced, in Florida, to life in prison without possibility of parole for culpability in a murder committed when she was 15. |
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Tate faces the press en route to Rome
Katheleen Tate's son, Lionel, was sentenced, in Florida, to life without possibility of parole for the death of a 4-year old neighbor when he was 12. |
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Williams speaks to the press in Atlanta
Jeff Williams' son, Andy, was sentenced, in California, to 38 years in prison for the shooting deaths of two students at his highschool. |
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Cushing makes a wish in Atlanta
Renny Cushing is Executive Director of Murder Victims' Families for Reconcilliation. Rather than demand death for the killer of his father, he and other victims like him want reconcilliation. Cushing says this about children in the US who face endless prison or ritual death by the state, "We want the country to see justice through the lens of redemption not retribution." |
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General Audience with the Pope
Karen Kaneer, Katheleen Tate and Jeff Williams were presented to the Pope who conferred His blessings upon them and their efforts. |
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A group picture in St. Peter's Square
Left to right: Cynthia Price-Cohen; Karen Kaneer; Polly Powell, Vincent Schiraldi; Rev. Thomas Masters; Benny Hernandez III; Monica Brookman; Michael Hursey; Dr. Go; Sheila Masters; Gertrud Lenzer; Cathy Corry; and Renny Cushing.
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Vatican Radio
Parents who journeyed to Rome to speak out aginst punishing children as adults in the US, tell their stories on Vatican Radio. Katheleen Tate, Karen Kaneer and Pauline Matthews are seen here. |
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Another grieving family
Ireland and Rena Beazley speak with Rev. Reginald Richardson after their appearance on Vatican Radio. Their son, Napoleon, was executed, in Texas, for a murder committed when he was 17. |
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